Care of hospitalized patients by "hospitalists" -- often defined as physicians who dedicate at least 25% of their practice to inpatient care -- is a recent, growing, and controversial trend in health care delivery in the United States. But despite the growth of interest in hospitalists, there have been few scientific evaluations of the concept. The comprehensive aim of this research study is to measure and analyze the effects of hospitalists on patient outcomes, costs and medical education on the general medical services of a group of academic centers.

the effects of hospitalists on patient outcomes, costs, and medical education on the general medicine services [ Time Frame: 30 days after discharge ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]

This will be accomplished by analyzing the outcomes of 60,000 patients assigned to hospitalists or non-hospitalists using a quasi-randomized design based on day of the week of admission. Outcomes will include in-hospital and post-discharge mortality, readmission, emergency room use, and patient satisfaction

Secondary Outcome Measures:

the effects of hospitalists on housestaff and student education and satisfaction [ Time Frame: 1 academic year ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]

This will be accomplished by surveys administered to medical students and housestaff.

quality of care for vulnerable elders [ Time Frame: 30 days after discharge ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]

chart abstraction tools in our project with questions aimed to address these issues

Inpatients admitted in GenMed at the University of Chicago will be consented to participate in an inpatient interview that consists of questions related to quality of care and satisfaction. The patient will also be interviewed over the phone 30 days after discharge and will be asked questions related to current health and their satisfaction during their stay at University of Chicago.

Detailed Description:

In 2001, a study titled, "A Multi-Center Trial of Academic Hospitalists" began at the University of Chicago Hospital along with five additional academic institutions. The study is currently and successfully collecting data solely at the University of Chicago Medical Center.

The comprehensive aim of this proposed research is to measure and analyze the effects of hospitalists on patient outcomes, costs, and medical education on the general medicine services at the University of Chicago Medical Center (UC). Additionally, this data will be used in addition to a group of six academic medical centers: Brigham and Women's Hospital (BWH), , the University of California-San Francisco (UCSF), the University of Chicago (UC), the University of Iowa (UI), the University of New Mexico (UNM), and the University of Wisconsin (UW) in which data has been collected between 2001-2003 (see UC-IRB#9967). The comprehensive aim of this research will be pursued through five specific aims:

Specific Aim #1- To assess whether hospitalists affect the cost and quality of inpatient care. This will be accomplished by analyzing the outcomes of 50,000 patients assigned to hospitalists or non-hospitalists using a quasi-randomized design based on day of the week of admission. Outcomes will include in-hospital and post-discharge mortality, readmission, emergency room use, and patient satisfaction.

Specific Aim #2- To assess the mechanisms by which hospitalists may effect the cost and quality of care. Understanding these mechanisms is essential if hospitalist programs are to be designed in ways that permit them to achieve their desired benefits. We will develop measures to assess the whether these possible mechanisms by which hospitalists may have their effects are related to costs and outcomes.

Specific Aim #3- To assess the effects of hospitalists on housestaff and student education and satisfaction. This will be accomplished by surveys administered to medical students and housestaff.

Specific Aim #4 - To attempt to quantify primary care providers' (PCP's) satisfaction with the frequency, promptness, manner, and content of communication with the in-hospital healthcare team, and to assess differences in PCP satisfaction with teams led by hospitalist and non-hospitalist attending physicians. We hypothesize that deficiencies in such communication may impair continuity of care with outpatient physicians during hospitalization and at the time of discharge, and may be improved when the attending physician is a hospitalist.

Specific Aim #5- To assess the quality of care for vulnerable elders for specific geriatric syndromes and diseases by modifying our current surveys and chart abstraction tools in our project with questions aimed to address these issues.

Eligibility

Ages Eligible for Study:

16 Years and older

Genders Eligible for Study:

Both

Accepts Healthy Volunteers:

No

Sampling Method:

Probability Sample

Study Population

Inpatients admitted in General Medicine at the University of Chicago

Criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

General Medicine inpatients at the University of Chicago Hospital or Mercy Hospital in Chicago Illinois

Exclusion Criteria:

Non-General Medicine inpatients

Contacts and Locations

Choosing to participate in a study is an important personal decision. Talk with your doctor and family members or friends about deciding to join a study.
To learn more about this study, you or your doctor may contact the study research staff using the Contacts provided below.
For general information, see Learn About Clinical Studies.

Please refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT00204048